Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-08-26
Arashinotpn Stanaard
THEH0UsEoN THE MARSH;
THE MYSTERY OF THE ALDERS.
II 1IoRRNCK Walden.
CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XVI
There were four ladies already in the
carriage which was waiting for me at
the gate-Lady Mills herself. with an
other more matronly-looking lady by
her side, whose name, l already knew,
was Mrs. Cunningham; and on the OPP
pOsite seat were younger lady with a
rather sharp expression, named Mrs.
Cloves, who was considered very clever,
and an unmarried one some years older
but there was plenty of room for us all.
We drove back first to the High Field.
where there was dog-cart waiting,
with . gentleman in it smoking; and
standing by the horses head, also with
. cigar in his mouth, was the tall fair
gentleman whose face now seemed to
know the best of all. As soon as we
drove up. he came tn the side Of the
carriage.
You are horribly crowded in there;
let me take Miss-Miss Christie in the
dog-cart.
"No. Tom, Miss Christie is better
where she is"
was glad Lady Mills would not let
me 90. for l did not care much about
the gentleman they called "Tom," and
Laurence did not like him either. The
drive from Geldham to Denham Court
was about seven miles and through a
beautiful country. Twas shown to my
room ~ soon as we arrived. had not
much time to grieve over my quarrel
with Laurence about the rose, but did
shed few tean and thought should
hA aha HN rooH NJ II ~
this pretty place without him. Then !
put ON my muslin frock and fastened
the black velvet around my throat with
the glittering. flashing pendant upon it.
and . little lower down pinned to the
lace edging the red rose Laurence had
given me. l looked SO much nicef than
had thought possible that l wished
Laurence could see me.
had left my room and was going
along the corridor when I met q man
who looked exactly like the mysterious
visitor to the Alders, whom Mr.. Ray
ner had described as "a gentleman"
and whom Ihad seen two nights before
going into tho stable with Sarah and
Tom Parkes. But this man stood
aside with the manner of q servant
not Of . gentleman. / hurried past
him, quite shocked at the resemblance,
for Of course . friend Of Mr.. Rayner
could not be . servant at Denham
Court.
I wandered into the conservatory
and was admiring the rare collection
Of beautiful flowers when the gentle
man called Tom" came up to me
and said:
''Nicely kept place, isn't itP Shall
cut you some dowen?"
by no means. could not think Of
allowing these plants to be robbed for
me-"
'.Now. that is your pride, Miss
Christie, which prevents you from &C
cepting favors. But l suppose one
must not expect humility from q lady
who wears such diamonds" and he
glanced again at my pendant, as he
had done several times while we talked.
''They are not real diamonds" said
], laughing. ''They are only paste"
He raised his eyebrows.
"Then allow me to congratulate
you, Miss Christie, on possessing the
very best imitation of the real thing
that have ever seen. I know some
thing about diamonds and never was
deceived before"
"Look! 1 will 60 to the door," said
/, for the light was fading, land then,
As you are such q good judge, you will
be able 10 tell"
I walked to the door. and he bent
his face down close to mine and exam
ined my pendant carefully. Presently
he gave . slight start.
Am taking too great q liberty in
asking il there are initials on the other
side Of that?"
Eyes, there are," said /, surprised.
''And will you tell me what they
areP"
I hesitated. If this gentleman
should persist in thinking tho ornament
10 be genuine diamonds, he would con-
slider It strange that Mr.. Rayner should
give such present to his child's gov
erness; 50 ! said. quietly:
~ would rather not tell you"
II beg your pardon. l have seen
only one ornament exactly like this,
but it was real diamonds"
"What was it WORTH" said l.
''About fifteen hundred pounds"
'.And Won thought had on an orna-
ment worth nIrecn nunarea Pounosr-'
said I, laughing heartily. ''Oh. If the
person who gave it me could know,
how he would laugh"
He caught at my words.
HE would laugh, would hep
l was annoyed with myself. for
had not meant to let out even the sex
Of the giver Of my pendant He con-
tinued:
He would be pleased, I should
think. 70 have his paste taken for dia-
monds."
1 did not answer. but only laughed
again.
"Have any Of the ladies seen 1t yet
Miss Christiei''
mo; and for fear that. they should
make the same mistake that you have
made. shall not let them," said l.
And bad raised INV hands to take il
Oh when MfS. Cunningham and anoth
er lady came into the conservatory
The elder lady's eyes fell upon the un
lucky trinket at once.
What are You taking that of for
my ds.ri i Il Just what you wan
Because have been leased abou
wearing diamonds, and they are onl,
sham ones: and l don't want 70 b.
leased any more" said /. rather trem
ulously.
''Never mind Tom, my dear. Dom
take Of your pretty pendant for him
They are certainly very like, though,
said she. looking first ct them an,
then into my face. Here, put then
on again and snap your fingers a
Tom
I raised the velvet obediently, AM
the gentleman called Tom came softl,
behind me and took the ends from ma
trembling fingers and fastened then
himself round my throat again.
after this experience watche,
rather curiously 10 SEQ the effect tn
pendant would have on the rest Of tn
party when I met them at the genera
gathering 1t dinner, and noticed that
while my pendant attracted the atten
ton Of the ladies, the gentlemen locke,
more ct myself. Sir Jonas, Lady Mills
husband. 9 kind. gray-haired gentle
man. who locked old enough to b he
father, took me in to dinner, and en-
couraged me to talk.
After dinner Mrs. Cunningham tool
me 70 the other end Of the room.
1T Is no business of mine who CAV
Won that Opndanf NV door. hu< kov